Do you know your teas? With so many really unhealthy sports beverages on the market, tea should always be on your list of alternative healthy beverages.

Many people are not aware that tea has so many health benefits. It is one of the healthiest beverages we can drink. In fact, most cultures considered tea medicinal with curative properties that address many health concerns.

Let's look at the different types of teas:

Black Tea

Black teas are made by fully oxidizing the leaves, producing a deep and hearty cup. There are many varieties of Chinese and Indian black teas, with the most popular being Darjeeling, Yunnan, Assam and Keemun.

Green Tea

Green tea does not go through any oxidation process. It is pan-fried or steamed. Almost all green tea is produced in Asia, with very distinct differences depending on the growing region and country. Green tea has amazing health benefits that are reviewed below. It has a very distinctive vegetative flavor to it and, depending on the origin and what time of year it is harvested, makes each type of green tea very different.

Oolong Tea

Oolong is a traditional Chinese tea. Depending on the plant variety and oxidation process, Oolong can be very mild with subtle flavors, or very bold and rich. China typically produces the more subtle oxidized floral oolong, with others like Thai oolong and African oolong which produce a stronger flavor.

White Tea

White teas are carefully hand-plucked once a year in the spring as the tea plants start their seasonal growth. When they are hand-picked, the leaves are withered and dried, keeping formal processing to a minimum. As a result, White Teas offer a mild, flavorful tea.

Red Tea

Red tea is made up of Rooibos (ROY-boss) a South African herb. Although Rooibos does not come from an actual tea plant, it is processed very much the same way. Rooibos varieties are oxidized in the sun and dried naturally. All Rooibos varieties are caffeine free and have a somewhat sweet flavor.

Herbal Tea

Herbal teas are made using botanical ingredients that are not actually from tea plant. Herbal teas are also called tisane. These teas tend to be considered medicinal, and use herbs such as ginger, chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus and lemongrass.

Now let's consider changing out those sugary sports drinks for a water bottle full of blended tea, with a small amount of organic sea salt and some raw honey.

Before I get into the overall benefits of tea as a sports drink replacement, here is a simple recipe:

Brew up one quart of tea. You can use green, black, white or any other type of herbal teas based on preference and taste. Steep your tea a little longer than normal to get the most benefit from the tea. Add 1/8 teaspoon of organic sea salt, which will give you those trace minerals you need. Then one or two teaspoons honey or stevia for sweetness and you're done. Refrigerate or ice, then pour it into your water bottle and off you go.

If you were to ask me what my preference is in tea, I would tell you green tea. Of all the teas, green gives you the best overall benefit from their high levels of polyphenolic compounds.

Green tea originated in China around 2,000 years ago, and over the centuries, green tea has become the world's most widely consumed beverage after water. Why has green tea become one of the primary beverages of the world?

In Asian countries, it is a custom to serve green tea as a standard daily beverage. In the west, there has been so much scientific evidence published on green tea's health benefits that it has been adopted as the healthy drink of choice for those opting for a healthier lifestyle. It is no wonder why green tea is consumed by so many.

Let's take a look at what makes tea and specifically green tea so healthy. Most teas contain chemical substances called "flavonoids," which are a natural, plant-based polyphenolic compounds.

These polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that protect you from oxidative (free-radical) damage in your body. Polyphenols are found in numerous plants, but some of the most potent polyphenols are only found in green tea leaves and are called "tea catechins."

To be considered truly a tea in its many varieties including green, white or black tea, the beverage must be derived from the "Camellia Sinensis" plant. It is important to be sure you're buying good quality green tea for best flavor and health benefits.

For fitness professionals and physically active people, the health properties of tea are pretty exciting. In trial studies, evidence indicates that the combination of green tea catechins and caffeine, which occurs naturally in all teas, producing a "thermogenic effect" which increases calorie and fat burning.

Studies have also shown that daily consumption of teas from the Camellia plant regardless of variety are rich in polyphenols, antioxidants that help detoxify the body. Daily consumption of tea over time can significantly increase the blood levels of polyphenols both before and after exercise. Research on the effect of increased blood levels of polyphenols have shown to help with quicker recovery at the cellular level and, in one study, improved ATP production (which is how your body fuels your muscles).

I think it is fair to say that there is much more research needed to prove how much green tea benefits your health, but I think it is pretty clear that green tea over sugary sports drinks is a much better option for your overall health.

Consuming tea, specifically green tea, pre- or post-exercise, may offer protection against oxidative damage caused by exercise. It also helps reduce inflammation for better fitness-related recovery time. Iced tea of any kind is a far better workout beverage then high-sugar, high-sodium sports drinks, so make the change for your next workout.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corporation.